"If you have one hour a week - YOU can make a difference in the life of a child."

SHIIP(Senior Health Insurance Information Program)Website Volunteers are trained on Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, Medicare benefits and rights; help recipients assess their needs so they can make informed decisions about their health insurance; compare and evaluate Medicare Supplemental Insurance and Long Term Care Insurance policies; organize medical bills, Medicare statements and file claims; and when necessary identify assistance from other agencies, including Medicaid. Although training is required in all areas, volunteers can request RSVP to limit their work to certain areas.

Skills Required: Volunteers must be detail oriented, patient and enjoy helping others on a one to one basis. This volunteer position is flexible, yet challenging and rewarding. SHIIP volunteers meet with clients by appointment only. SHIIP volunteers do not make decisions for the clients; but rather provide information to help the client make their own decisions.

Tax Program RSVP sponsors locally the AARP and IRS Tax Assistance Program. Volunteers are trained and updated each year in tax preparation with an emphasis on low - moderate income households and retired population. This volunteer tax service is provided from February thru the last Thursday on or before April 15.

Skills required:
Volunteers must be detail oriented, patient and enjoy helping others on a one to one basis. Four day training provided each year, along with practice sessions prior to working with clients. Service provided during tax season only.

Home Meal Delivery Volunteers are needed to deliver meals on a Monday-Friday basis to home-bound seniors who have been identified by NEI3A (Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging) as needing nutritional services. Volunteers deliver the “Noon” meals, and whenever possible briefly visit with the recipients, as you may be the only person they see that day.

The time commitment is 10:45 am -12:15pm time frame. That is from meal pick-up to delivery route completion. Volunteers can work alone or in pairs and on a regular schedule or fill in when a substitute is needed.

Prime Time (Mentoring & Literacy)Waterloo Community Schools RSVP is a Partner-At-Large with the Waterloo Schools in helping to recruit volunteers for activities that support literacy and improve school
performance. Volunteers are needed to work one to one or with groups of
students in grades Kindergarten through 6th Grade, helping to improve their
reading skills. The volunteers work with the students at school, during the
school day, on a schedule pre-arranged with the teacher. The teachers refer
specific students for volunteer assistance; provide assignments to use and
instructions for the volunteers. The volunteers can request which school(s)
and grade(s) to work with; as well as which days and what time frame.

Skills required: Volunteers must show a genuine interest in children and
their well being, be patient and effective in learning situations, have good
communication skills, and enjoy reading themselves in order to demonstrate
healthy attitudes to children.

A school-based mentoring initiative, BAM! Be A Mentor!, is underway in the
Waterloo Schools, grades K-12, in collaboration with Big Brother Big Sisters (BBBS), RSVP and Cedar Valley's Promise. A
one to one ongoing relationship with a caring adult provides support and
encouragement to a child.

Skills required: Volunteers must have and demonstrate a genuine interest in
children and their well being, be patient and effective in learning
situations, have good communication skills. Volunteers must commit to one
school year and be consistent in their visits with their mentee. Screening
interviews and background checks will be conducted.

"Mentoring has really been fun. I was brought in through my church being a Partner In Education. It's been a great outreach to work with our children. You need to get over being scared. Anybody can do it. It only takes an hour a week. All that child is asking is, give me one hour of your time."

-Ken, Volunteer

"This is my 7th year as a Reading Buddy! I love it! I have been at Edison Elementary for the entire time - with First graders. I go once a week for about 1 1/2 hours & listen to about 8 1st graders read to me. They love the attention & they love the stories! I see improvement each week. The students are delightful and the teachers so easy to work with."